Living Well in the Golden Years: Comfort-Focused Care for Senior Pets A handbook for comfort, health, and dignity in your pet’s later years Gray whiskers and slower strolls are natural parts of aging, but pain, infection, or organ disease should never be dismissed as “just old age.” Many changes develop gradually and can be easy [...]
From Plaque to Pain: How the Wrong Chew Can Send Pets to Urgent Care Keeping up with pet dental care is not easy. Brushing every day sounds great in theory, but for most families it feels impossible, and professional cleanings can be expensive. That’s why dental toys and treats are so appealing. They promise fresher [...]
From Spay Day to TPLO: Surgeries Most Pets Will Face- And How Your Choices Shape the List A St. Petersburg guide to planning for a lifetime of healthy procedures Bringing home a puppy or kitten feels like the start of a carefree adventure, yet most pets will visit the operating room several times before their [...]
When Eating Hurts: How Dental Pain Impacts Your Pet’s Behavior and Appetite Dental disease is one of the most common medical conditions in cats and dogs, yet it is often misunderstood or overlooked. Many pet owners are surprised to learn that dental pain does not always show up as obvious symptoms like drooling or chewing [...]
Urinary Blockages in Cats: Symptoms, Causes, and Urgent Care A cat that can’t urinate is experiencing more than discomfort—it’s facing a life-threatening medical emergency. Urinary blockages, especially in male cats, are one of the most critical conditions we treat at St. Petersburg Animal Hospital & Urgent Care. Left untreated, a blockage can lead to kidney [...]
Understanding Pyometra: Why Emergency Surgery Can Save Your Pet’s Life If you have an unspayed female dog or cat, there’s one condition you need to know about that truly can’t wait: pyometra. Pyometra is a life-threatening uterine infection that can escalate quickly—sometimes within hours. It often develops without warning and can progress so rapidly that [...]
Beyond the Mouth: How Dental Disease Affects the Heart, Liver, and Kidneys Dental disease is one of the most common health issues in pets- and one of the easiest to overlook. While bad breath or tartar might seem like minor nuisances, the effects can go far beyond the mouth. Left untreated, dental disease can quietly [...]
Why Toy Breeds and Small Dogs Are at Higher Risk for Dental Disease If you share your home with a Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Pomeranian, or another tiny companion, you probably know their size doesn’t limit their personality. But here’s something many pet parents don’t realize: toy breeds and small dogs are significantly more prone to [...]
Pet Poison Control: Foods and Substances to Keep Away from Your Dog or Cat Even the most loving, vigilant pet owners can overlook hazards hiding in plain sight. From pantry staples to potted plants, many everyday items can be toxic—or even deadly—for dogs and cats. At St. Petersburg Animal Hospital & Urgent Care, we treat [...]
Common Aging Cat and Dog Diseases: Symptoms to Watch For As dogs and cats grow older, their bodies—and needs—change. Some of those changes are natural parts of aging, while others may signal emerging health concerns. What may seem like "just slowing down" could actually be the early signs of a treatable condition. At St. Petersburg [...]
